Judge Dee must solve three complex mysteries in this case. Poisoned plums, secret messages in a scroll picture, passionate love letters and a murderer with a penchant for torturing and killing women lead him into the heart of the Governor's garden maze and the answers to these mysteries. *** Poisoned plums, a cryptic scroll picture, passionate love letters, and a hidden murderer with a penchant for torturing and killing women lead Judge Dee to the heart of the Governor’s garden maze and the answers to three interwoven mysteries. The Chinese Maze Murders represents Robert van Gulik’s first venture into writing suspense novels after the success of Dee Gong An, his translation of an anonymous Chinese detective novel from the sixteenth century. Views: 32
Die Twice—two gripping Dennis Milne mysteries in one from Simon Kernick.The Murder ExchangeWhen ex-mercenary Max Iversson agreed to provide security for nightclub owner Roy Fowler, he never expected a bloodbath. Three men have been shot, the briefcase Iversson was guarding is empty...and now he wants to know why. So begins a dangerous hunt for answers that will take him into direct conflict with Detective Sergeant John Gallan, who is investigating the mysterious death of one of Fowler's doormen, and toward a confrontation that neither is likely to escape unscathed. The Business of DyingCynical and jaded, Detective Sergeant Dennis Milne earns money on the side by doing what he does best: punishing the bad guys. But this time he's been duped and instead of blowing away drug dealers, he kills three innocent men, setting off a war of morality that could leave him broken, or worse...dead. Views: 32
A brilliantly inventive, fabulously illustrated addition to the Far- Flung Adventures series from the award-winning, bestselling author andillustrator team Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. Set in the same world as the Fergus Crane and Corby Flood stories, this is the tale of a small boy, Hugo Pepper, and his amazing exploits. Raised in the Frozen North by reindeer herders, his parents eaten by polar bears when he was just a baby, Hugo discovers that the sled they arrived in has a very special compass--one that can be set to "Home." And so Hugo arrives in Firefly Square--to discover a group of very special friends, and a dastardly enemy. With three-toed snowmen, a secret buried treasure, and a host of fabulous stories, this is a fantastic new tale in this series.From the Hardcover edition. Views: 32
Read Dan Koeppel's posts on the Penguin Blog.In the vein of the bestselling Salt and Cod, a gripping chronicle of the myth, mystery, and uncertain fate of the world's most popular fruitIn this fascinating and surprising exploration of the banana's history, cultural significance, and endangered future, award-winning journalist Dan Koeppel gives readers plenty of food for thought. Fast-paced and highly entertaining, Banana takes us from jungle to supermarket, from corporate boardrooms to kitchen tables around the world. We begin in the Garden of Eden—examining scholars' belief that Eve's "apple" was actually a banana— and travel to early-twentieth-century Central America, where aptly named "banana republics" rose and fell over the crop, while the companies now known as Chiquita and Dole conquered the marketplace. Koeppel then chronicles the banana's path to the present, ultimately—and most alarmingly—taking us to banana plantations across the... Views: 32
The year is 2059. Fifteen-year-old Noa Blake has passed the exam to stay in The Territory – but her childhood friend Jack has been shipped off to the disease-ridden Wetlands, a death sentence in all but name. Noa and Raf have vowed to rescue him, but how? With an electric fence, gun towers and a police state monitoring their every move, getting into the Wetlands looks impossible, let alone getting home again. Second in The Territory trilogy, The Territory, Escape follows Noa, Raf and Jack as they battle through a world of raiders, mosquito swarms, and psychopathic prisoners. Noa faces her own battle too – is it just friendship that drives her and if not, is Jack still even hers to claim? Views: 32
Garry Gaggs, Bogusville's crazy comedian, takes the microphone to deliver this collection of funnies. 'this dog has no nose.' 'How does he smell?' ' terrible' Join Selby and Gary Gaggs, Bogusville's craziest comedian, with this gathering of giggles and gut-busting gags. Watch Gary tackle life on a leaky boat with a bad history. Chuckle as he gets involved in a film romance with a difference. Be part of the epic 'Poem that Stopped Bogusville'. And when an unseen heckler beats him to the punchline every time, Gary's in trouble. Selby must not only discover who the phantom gagster is, but stop himself laughing at Gary's terrible jokes ... and blowing his own secret! For the first time in one book, readers can find, and fans can rediscover, all the hilarious stories starring Gary Gaggs, Selby's favourite funnyman. And Gary's own great jokes can be found in Selby's Joke Book and Selby's Side-Splitting Joke Book. Views: 32
Part love story, part murder mystery, set on the cusp of the Second World War, Russell Banks' sharp-witted and deeply engaging new novel raises dangerous questions about class, politics, art, love, and madness-and explores what happens when two powerful personalities begin to break the rules. 29-year-old Vanessa Cole is a wild, stunningly beautiful heiress, scandalously linked to any number of rich and famous men. But at her parents' country home in a remote Adirondack Mountain enclave known as The Reserve, two events coincide to permanently alter the course of Vanessa's callow life: her father dies suddenly of a heart attack, and a mysteriously seductive local artist, Jordan Groves, lands his biplane in the forbidden Upper Lake... Internationally known as much for his exploits and conquests as for his paintings themselves, Jordan's leftist loyalties seem suspiciously undercut by his wealth and upper-crust clientele. But for all his worldly swagger, Jordon is as staggered by Vanessa's beauty and charm as she is by his defiant independence. He falls easy prey to her electrifying personality, but it is not long before he discovers that the heiress carries a dark, deeply scarring family secret. Emotionally unstable from the start, and further unhinged by her father's unexpected death, Vanessa begins to spin wildly out of control, manipulating and destroying the lives of all who cross her path. The Reserve is a clever, incisive, and passionately romantic novel of suspense that adds a new dimension to this acclaimed author's extraordinary repertoire. Views: 32
In 1931, while most of Los Angeles is struggling to survive the Depression, the business of Hollywood is booming. And everyone wants a piece. The movies have always been cutthroat and, as girl Friday Kitty Pangborn is about to find out, that's more than a metaphor.Kitty's boss, private detective Dexter Theroux, has been asked to help leading man Laird Wyndham prove his innocence. The actor was the last person to be seen with a young actress who died under very suspicious circumstances, and the star has fallen from the big screen to the big house. Wyndham's a dreamboat, but that isn't the only thing that has Kitty hot under the collar. Dex has already signed a client---one who's hired him to prove Wyndham's hands are not as clean as they look.Mixing Hollywood glitz with hard-boiled grit, Death Was in the Picture captures the essence of life in Depression-era Los Angeles: a world where times are tough, talk is cheap, and murder is often just one scene... Views: 32
Heather Creek Farm is blanketed in snow and ice as the heart of winter settles over Nebraska, but things are heating up for the Stevenson family. Emily, embarrassed by an innocent mistake, takes up a new hobby that could bring Charlotte and her granddaughter closer together—if it doesn't tear them apart first. Meanwhile, Sam makes some new friends who aren't exactly Charlotte's cup of tea, and Christopher learns more about the farm's horses than he ever wanted to know.And when Pete comes across a car that's veered off the road, he tows the driver to safety and lands into trouble of his own. His budding relationship with Dana hits the skids when the grateful driver, Lisa Grienke, starts paying him lots of attention. Charlotte watches helplessly as Pete starts edging towards throwing away the best relationship he's ever had.Through it all, Charlotte struggles with letting go what of people think about her and her family and focusing on the abundance of blessings around her. Views: 32
In Lisa Samson's moving novel, the wife of a popular televangelist discovers a family secret that threatens to destroy her marriage and her husband's ministry. Views: 32
Scott Quinnell's book is called The Hardest Test. It is the story of how he became a successful rugby player, in spite of having to fight against learning difficulties at school. When he retired in 2005 he continued his battle with dyslexia in order to change both his and his children's lives for ever. Rugby player Scott Quinnell played for the Llanelli Scarlets and played for his country, Wales, fifty-two times. He was also a British lion. He reached the very top of his sport before he retired in 2005. He is now one of the most recognisable faces in world rugby. Views: 32
